Archive for the 'Pete Jenkins' Tag Under 'USC' Category

[UPDATE] The Macon Telegraph, through anonymous sources, reported Friday morning that Chris Wilson will take the USC job after all, and cited a Twitter post in which Wilson thanked Georgia coach Mark Richt.

-----

The saga of USC's defensive line continues, as it now appears as though Georgia line coach Chris Wilson is having second thoughts about joining the Trojans.

Several Georgia outlets reported Wednesday that Wilson had agreed to join the new staff of Coach Steve Sarkisian, but USC did not announce a hiring. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, using anonymous sources, that Wilson might be having second thoughts about the job because of family concerns.

USC is still trying to find a full-time replacement for line coach Ed Orgeron.

Defensive-line assistant coach Pete Jenkins is completing his first full week of game preparation. Jenkins was officially hired Oct. 10 and is helping Orgeron, who has retained the title of line coach but has ceded many practice duties to Jenkins.

Jenkins, 72, retired in 2009 after 45 years of college and NFL coaching but flew out from his Florida home to help Orgeron, a longtime friend.

``He said the magic words: `I need your help,’’’ Jenkins said. ``I love him. I’ve known him since he was a young man and I think he’s the most wonderful guy in the world. He’s got a heart of gold.’’

USC interim Coach Ed Orgeron has 25 years of experience as a defensive line coach, but he’s still trying to pick up some knowledge. Shortly before Thursday’s game, USC finalized the hiring of Pete Jenkins as a defensive-line assistant. Jenkins, one of Orgeron’s longtime mentors, has 45 years of coaching experience.

Orgeron said he had a lengthy meeting on Saturday with Jenkins, who gave Orgeron some tips about line play within a 3-4 defensive scheme.

``(Saturday) was like Christmas for me,’’ Orgeron said after Sunday's practice.

Jenkins, it seems, will also help Orgeron manage the linemen’s playing time, now that Orgeron is in charge of the entire team. USC gave up 14 points and 143 yards in the fourth quarter against Arizona.

``We were wiped,’’ Orgeron said. ``We were pooped out. We needed to do a better job of rotating, especially the defensive front. We did not rotate like we should have. We will address that this week. We need to play more players. They work hard, and it’s not fair to them.’’

Lane Kiffin’s firing left an open spot on the coaching roster, and interim Coach Ed Orgeron plans to hire 72-year-old Pete Jenkins as an assistant defensive line coach.

Orgeron said Jenkins, a line coach for 45 years, has been a mentor through him throughout his career. Orgeron remains USC’s line coach, but doesn’t want the unit to get ignored as he tends to the entire team.

``Pete was planning to come here as a consultant before (Kiffin’s firing) happened,’’ Orgeron said. ``After about a week of being the the head coach, the D-line coach, the recruiting coordinator and the guy in charge of discipline, I felt that I could use a hand.

Orgeron previously offered the spot to former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, who would have been an offensive consultant. Jenkins, who attended practice Friday, retired in 2009 after three years as line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins last coached college football in 2002, with LSU. He has also had stints with Troy State, North Alabama, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn. Jenkins was also LSU’s defensive coordinator in the mid-1980s.